Swaddling Garment With Gel Pad

ABSTRACT

An infant sleeping garment has a main body formed from a front surface joined to a rear surface. The rear surface has an attached flap portion which can be closed to form a rear compartment between the rear surface of the garment and the flap portion. A gel pack can be inserted into the rear compartment when in an open configuration, and retained within the compartment in a closed configuration by closing the rear compartment by a suitable closure element such as a zipper. The gel pack can be removed from the rear compartment by opening the closure element. The infant garment can be used, at the selection of the user, in combination with the gel pack retained within the rear compartment, or without the gel pack received in the rear compartment of the garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a sleeping garment, including a swaddling garment or sleep sack, for infants.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,364, issued to one of the co-inventors of the present application on Dec. 17, 2013, discloses a peanut shaped swaddling garment in which the top portion of the garment has a volume which is substantially equal to the volume of the bottom portion of the garment, and in which the top and bottom portions of the garment are substantially of the same configuration and are substantially symmetrically oriented relative to the middle of the body of the garment. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,364 is in its entirety expressly incorporated by reference into the present patent application.

The drawings of the present application illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention as embodied in an infant sleeping garment comprising a swaddling garment having a main body or shell for accommodating an infant therein. The advantage of a swaddling garment in the shape illustrated by the drawing is discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,364.

Although the garment in accordance with the present invention has been described as being embodied within a peanut shaped swaddling garment, other infant sleeping garments, including other shaped swaddling garments and sleep sacks, are within the scope of the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the swaddling garment of the present application generally is of a peanut shape configuration in which the lower portion of the main body is wider and longer than the upper portion of the main body to provide more hip room for an infant. Thus, the body of the garment, as illustrated by the enclosed drawing, is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the top and bottom portions are of substantially equal volume or configuration, or are symmetrically oriented relative to the middle of the body of the garment, although such configurations of the garment are also within the scope of the present invention. Swaddling garments of configurations other than peanut shaped, as well as conventional sleep sacks which widen in a direction from top to bottom and have substantially flat bottom end, are also within the scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an infant sleeping garment, preferably a swaddling garment, includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a rear flap attached to the rear surface of the garment.

The rear flap is selectively openable and closable to define a pouch between the rear surface of the garment and the flap. A gel pack configured to conform to the shape of the pouch is removably inserted into the pouch to result in a infant garment/gel pad combination. Thus, the garment may be used as an ordinary infant garment, or at the selection of the user, an infant garment/gel pack combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawing illustrates a front elevational view of the infant garment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 of the drawing illustrates a rear elevational view of the infant garment with a rear pouch in a closed position;

FIG. 3 of the drawing illustrates a rear elevational view of the infant garment illustrating a gel pack received in the rear pouch of the garment;

FIG. 4 of the drawing illustrates the front elevational view of the garment, partially opened, to receive an infant therein; and

FIG. 5 of the drawing illustrates the rear elevational view of the garment with a rear flap partially opened to partially expose a portion of a gel pack received in a rear pouch of the garment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As illustrated by FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, a peanut shaped swaddling garment, generally designated by reference numeral 2, has a front surface designated by the reference numeral 3 and a rear surface designated by the reference numeral 5. A separate layer of fabric or flap, generally designated by reference numeral 4, is attached to the attached to the rear surface 5 of the garment. The separate layer of fabric is configured to conform to the shape of the rear surface of the garment, and is attached to the rear surface of the garment partially by sewing at the top of the garment, and partially by a zipper 6 provided at the lower portion of the rear of the garment. The zipper 6 provides means for accessing a pouch 8 defined between the rear surface 5 of the garment and the and the separate layer of fabric 4 attached to the rear surface 5 of the garment. The pouch 8 is configured to conform to the shape of the garment, and is provided for receiving a gel pack therein. (FIG. 3 illustrates the gel pack 10, with the outer layer of fabric 4 removed from the garment, while FIG. 5 illustrates the rear surface 5 of the garment with the flap 4 partially opened to show the gel pack 10 received in the pouch 8 defined between the rear surface 5 of the garment and the flap 4 attached to the rear surface 5 of the garment). When the gel pack 10 is received in the pouch 8 as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 5, it is retained therein by fully closing the zipper 6. The gel pack can be removed from the pouch for inspection and/or replacement by opening the zipper 6. The gel pack can contain any FDA approved medical grade silicone. As illustrated by FIG. 3, the gel pack 10 is preferably a single unit which is configured to substantially conform to the shape and size of the rear surface 5 of the garment 2 and the shape and size of the pouch 8 defined between the rear surface 5 of the garment and the flap 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates how the garment operates, including the insertion of a gel pack into the pouch between the rear surface 5 of the garment and the flap 4 attached to the rear surface 5 of the garment. Preferably, the an upper portion of the flap 4 is sewn to the top of the rear surface 5 of the garment, while the lower portion of the flap 4 is attached to the rear surface 5 of the garment by the zipper 6. When the zipper 6 is in its fully opened position, the gel pack can be inserted into or removed from the pouch 8. When the zipper 6 is in its fully closed position, the gel pack can be retained in the pouch 8, or the garment can be used without the gel pack received in the pouch.

As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 4, the preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a third zipper 12 which extends longitudinally down the center of the front surface 3 of the garment for placing the infant in, and removing the infant from, the sleeping garment. Slits 14 are defined in the front surface 3 of the garment to accommodate tubes and leads for feeding fluids to an infant inside the garment. The front, centrally located zipper 12 extends substantially from the top to the bottom of the garment to allow an infant to be received in, or removed from the garment, and an upper closure element/chin protector 7 is provided near the top of the front zipper.

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,364, the infant garment 2 can be formed, at least in part, from a mesh material to permit light permeability for treating infant jaundice.

As also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,364, the garment may include closable openings near the top of the garment to permit the arms of an infant in the garment, at the selection of the user, to extend outwardly from the garment. The arm openings can be closed, at the selection of the user, by for example, complementary snaps so that the garment is closed to restrain the movement of the arms of an infant within the garment.

There are numerous advantages of providing an infant sleeping garment with a gel pack. Among other things, a gel pack located at the rear of the sleeping garment helps to maintain thermoregulation and provide comfort to the infant. It creates the feeling of being inutero (in the womb) psychologically, socially, and physically. Babies that are born prematurely, born addicted to drugs (unable to self-soothe), and babies placed in the NICU away from mothers should benefit from feeling contained in the peanut shaped swaddle, but also supported and comforted by the gel insert. The gel allows for range of motion while behind swaddled which should alleviate pressure on joints. For newborn babies outside a hospital environment, the gel may provide a feeling of being held. The gel may feel similar to that of a mother's breasts or postpartum body. The additional weight of the gel will trigger a newborn's calming reflex for happier babies and deeper sleep. This product should prevent the “lost in space” feeling babies often experience when they leave the womb and create an environment of safety, thus developing towards Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage of trust. The gel pack inserted into the rear of the sleeping garment helps to maintain the infant in the preferred back or supine sleep position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention also provides an additional zipper (not shown in the drawing) at the bottom of the garment for opening and closing the bottom portion of the front and rear of the garment to provide access to the feet of an infant in the garment for the purpose of taking blood tests (PKU tests) and for easy diaper changing, while the gel pack remains enclosed within the rear pouch.

Preferably, the outer shell of the garment is formed from a 4 way stretch fabric to cocoon the baby, and recreate the feeling of touch, is a stretchy fabric to allow movement while giving gentle compression, and is lightweight and breathable.

The gel containing pouch of the garment maintains body temperature of the infant within the garment, cushions the baby's pressure points, provides general comfort and cocooning effect, mimics the feeling of touch and womb, and helps to maintain the “back” or supine preferred sleep position.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the description provided herein. Accordingly, the discussion of the preferred embodiment of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the following claims, and all equivalents thereto. 

1. An infant garment comprising a main body formed from a front surface and a rear surface attached together, and a rear flap attached to said rear surface, said rear surface of said infant garment and said rear flap being arranged to define a pouch for receiving a gel pack therein.
 2. The infant garment according to claim 1, further including a gel pack received with the pouch defined between the rear surface and the rear flap.
 3. The infant garment according to claim 2, wherein the shape and size of said gel pack corresponds substantially to the shape and size of said pouch.
 4. The infant garment according to claim 3, wherein said gel pack is a single unit.
 5. The infant garment according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said flap is sewn into the rear surface of the infant garment.
 6. The infant garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said flap is connected to the rear surface of the infant garment by a zipper.
 7. The infant garment according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of said flap is sewn into the rear surface of the infant garment, and a second portion of said flap is connected to the rear surface of the infant garment by a zipper.
 8. The infant garment according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said flap is sewn into the rear surface of the infant garment.
 9. The infant garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portion of said flap is connected to the rear surface of the infant garment by a zipper.
 10. The infant garment according to claim 2, wherein a first portion of said flap is sewn into the rear surface of the infant garment, and a second portion of said flap is connected to the rear surface of the infant garment by a zipper.
 11. The infant garment according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the garment is formed, at least in part, from a mesh material.
 12. The infant garment according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the garment defines closable arm openings.
 13. The infant garment according to claim 2, wherein the main body of the garment is formed, at least in part, from a mesh material.
 14. The infant garment according to claim 2, wherein the main body of the garment defines closable arm openings.
 15. The infant garment according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the garment defines at least one slit.
 16. An infant garment comprising a main body formed from a front surface and a rear surface attached together, and a rear flap attached to said rear surface, said rear surface of said infant garment and said rear flap being arranged to define a pouch for receiving a gel pack therein, and a gel pack received within said pouch.
 17. The infant garment according to claim 16 wherein said gel pack is a single unit substantially corresponding in size and shape to the size and shape of said pouch.
 18. The infant garment according to claim 17 wherein at least a portion of said main body is formed, at least in part, from a mesh material.
 19. The infant garment according to claim 18 wherein the main body of the garment defines closable arm openings.
 20. The infant garment according to claim 17, wherein the front surface of the garment defines at least one slit. 